Page 15 of CryBully
“I’m Rowyn,” I say softly, and he lifts my hand, placing a kiss against my skin. My body litters with goosebumps, and I thank heaven above that I’m wearing a hoodie so I can’t embarrass myself.
“Such a pretty name. See you around, Petal,” he states, releasing my hand, walking around me.Holy shit. Did that just happen or did I imagine it?I glance over my shoulder but they’re gone. Almost as if they were never here to begin with. I take a deep breath, pulling my suitcase, and walking down the hallway. I look from room to room hoping to find my dorm but I’m not even sure I’m in the right place.
Reaching into my pocket, I pull out the map that came with my orientation booklet and see I am almost there. It’s move-inweekend and this place is mobbed with new students and their parents dropping them off. My heart pings in my chest thinking of what it would’ve been like for my parents to bring me here for my first year of college. Would they have loved this place as much as I do? Would they have wanted me to stay home and attend community college? So many questions I’ll never get answered.
Finally, I make it to my room and see the door is already open. Stepping inside, there’s a girl unpacking her clothes.
“Um, hi. You must be Misti,” I say, and she whips around with a huge smile on her face.
“Oh my god. Are you Rowyn?” She squeals, and I smile.
“Yep. That’s me.”
“You’re so freaking pretty, Jesus.” She laughs, wrapping her arms around me for a hug.I’m not sure what she sees but I’m far from pretty.
“Thank you, and so are you,” I reply, hugging her back.
“I’m so excited to finally meet you. We’re going to have so much fun this year,” she says, and I nod. I’m not used to friends or hugs, or any interaction really, so this is going to be a little bit of an adjustment.
“Same here. I’m guessing this side is mine?” I ask, nodding to the left side of the room with a full size bed and an L-shaped desk.
“Yes, I hope that is okay. I didn’t know when you were arriving. I’m sorry,” she says, and I shake my head.
“No, no. Don’t apologize. I’m good wherever,” I say, wheeling my belongings towards the bed and lifting it onto the mattress.
“The only thing that sucks about being on the freshman floor is the communal bathroom and shower,” she states, rolling her blue eyes. I laugh and shrug because I’m not sure what else to say. “When you’re done unpacking, do you want to walk around?I can give you the scoop on the hierarchy of the school.” She laughs, and my eyes widen.
“Hierarchy? ” I ask, and she grins.
“Get unpacked and I’ll give you the tea. My older sister is a senior here so she told me all the things we need to know as freshmen to survive.”
“Alright, thank god for older sisters right?” I laugh, tucking a strand of my dark hair behind my ear.
“Yep, Candace is the best,” She says, and I nod, wishing I had someone to rely on but I don’t, so I just unpack my stuff and try to think about the future rather than the past. I need this year to be life changing in the most positive way it can be. This is the year I persevere and grow into the woman I want to be.
***
Two hours later we are sitting in Orientation. We both took way too long to get settled and lost track of time. Thankfully, Misti had set an alarm letting us know when it was almost time to be here.
Droves of students pile into the huge auditorium and I just take it all in. It’s a little overwhelming but I take a deep breath and try to center myself when Misti nudges my arm.
“See those guys down there?” she asks, nodding to the three boys sitting next to the podium with letterman jackets on.
“Yeah, they’re hot. Jesus,” I state, and she giggles.
“I know, but if one of them notices you, keep your head down,” she tells me, and my head snaps to her.
“Why? Or better yet—from which one?” I ask, because what the fuck?
“Doesn’t matter, they talk. Look at the one with dark hair, that’s Grayson Mercer, football captain. He rules the school. Anything he says goes. The other one with the broody face—that’s Elliot Jacobs, baseball pitcher. He’s nice but don’t let his charm fool you.” She laughs as I look down at the three.
“And the last one?” I ask.
“That’s Kade Langley, hockey captain, and the scariest of them all. I can’t stand him.”
“They seem pretty harmless from up here. Have you had a run in with them?” I ask, but she shakes her head. I don’t want to tell her that I already have. We’ve only just met and I don’t know her well enough to tell her my secrets.
“Not exactly but I’ve heard stories,” she whispers, and I lean in because I’ve got to know. I’m too nosey not to know what these stories are. “Ok, so rumor has it, years ago a girl tried to report a Lockridge captain and the report disappeared, the girl transferred mid-semester, which is something unheard of, and the captain went pro. Apparently, the problem was handledinternally,” she states, air quoting internally, and my eyes widen.
